Mythographers agree that Artemis was born first and then assisted with the birth of Apollo, or that Artemis was born one day before Apollo, on the island of Ortygia and that she helped Leto cross the sea to Delos the next day to give birth to Apollo.

As the patron of Delphi, Apollo was an oracular go, the prophetic deity of the Delphic Oracle.

As the god of prophecy. Apollo exercised this power in his numerous oracles, and especially in that of Delphi. The source of all his prophetic powers was Zeus himself and Apollo is accordingly called “the prophet of his father Zeus”. According to Apollodorus, the oracle had previously been in the possession of Themis, and the dragon Python guarded the mysterious chasm, and Apollo, after having slain the monster, took possession of the oracle.

Apollo was also known as “the god who affords help and wards off evil”. He had the power of visiting men with plagues and epidemics, so he was also able to deliver men from them.

Apollo was furthermore depicted as the God of Music. This is shown particularly on the Iliad, in which he appears delighting the immortal gods with his play on the phorminx during their repast. Besides, the Homeric bards derived their art of song either from Apollo or the Muses.

He was also considered a God related to the Foundation of Towns. His assistance in the building of Troy was very important, respecting his aid in raising the walls of Megara.

Medicine and healing were associated with Apollo too, whether through the god himself or mediated through his son Asclepius.

Coronis was Apollo’s lover and Asclepius’ mother. She was a princess of the Thessalian kingdom of Phlegyantis.

When she was pregant with his son, Coronis committed adultery with a man named Ischys (“the Mighty”).

Apollo knew it as he had commanded his divine messenger, the white raven, to guard Coronis. When the raven brought news to Apollo of his lover’s infidelity, the god, angered at the bird, turned the raven’s white feathers black. Apollo killed Ischys and sent his sister, Artemis, to destroy her.

Apollo’s sister, Artemis, slew Coronis with her deadly arrows.

Whilst Coronis was burning on the pyre Apollo made sure to remove his son (Asclepius) from her womb and he gave it to the Chiron, (son of Cronus, Zeus’ Father and God of time and the ages, and the Oceanid Nymph, Philyra), who was as the eldest and wisest of the Centaurs, a tribe of half-horse men.

Coronis was later placed amongst the stars as the constellation Corvus (“the Crow”).

In Hellenistic times, especially during the 3rd century BCE, as Apollo Helios he became identified among Greeks with Helios, God of the Sun, and his sister Artemissimilarly equated with Selene, Goddess of the Moon.

Furthermore, the Horae could be related to the portions of time of the Day (twelve hours for the Ancient Greeks) These Horae oversaw the path of the Sun-God Helios (Apollo) as he travelled across the sky, dividing the day into its portions.

Apollo was worshipped throughout the Roman Empire. In the Celtic lands he was most often seen as a Healing and Sun God.

Geofrey dixit: I am an apprentice poet and fiction writer, working to learn the skill of turning life into words, and the even greater skill of turning words into life. I love pretty pictures, distant dreams, and silent sleep. More than anything else I am a lover of words, of the way words can bring us together and allow us, so briefly, to feel ourselves echoed in another’s thoughts. I write because literature can lift us out of ourselves, put us into another person’s mind, and, for a moment, reconcile us to our so solitary condition. If I can learn to do that, maybe in some small way I’ll have justified a part of my existence.

My blogger friends Sylvester from Syl65’s Blog and Marlyn from Kintal have invited me for a so called 3-Day Quote Challenge.

The rules of the challenge are: ♠Post your favorite quotes or your own quotes for three (3) posts in a row. ♠Thank the person who nominated you. ♠Pass it on to three (3) other bloggers per quote, each time you post them. Or pass it to nine (9) bloggers if you choose to post all the quotes together, in the same post.

⚠ Note: I will post the three (3) quotes at once. Thus I will nominate nine (9) Bloggers. Also, I thought It would be fun to add those three quotes on personal photographs… So that’s what I did! 😀

It’s interesting that medicine and healing were associated with Apollo along with music. Even today it seems the two go hand and hand. Many scientists and healthcare providers are musicians too. Though certainly not all of them are good ones. 😉

Hi dear Carrie… I liked the way you associated some of Apollo´s main features with Medicine and Doctors. Very witty as always. Great to read your comment!… Thank you!… Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀

The Sisterhood of The World Bloggers Award… You are on the list… there are two of those ones, grab the one you like the most … It should have been called Broterhood Award, I know LOL!!!!… Hugs Aquileana 😀

I truly didn´t pay too much attention to award itself… Sorry for that… And yet one of the Sisterhood Awards does not look too female, but just its name….
Anyhow you can decline it and I will nominate you next time instead if you are okay with that, dear Emma. It is up to you. Let me know! …
All my best wishes! Aquileana ⭐

You pack so much into a single post, Aquileana! Love the effort that goes into your each post, informative and alluring. Loved that Hymn to Apollo too. Thanks for sharing those lovely pictures. You are so sweet, dear friend. Stay blessed!

Reblogged this on Apollo's Raven and commented:
This is a post about Apollo from La Audacia de Aquiles that includes Poem: “Hymn to Apollo”, by Geofrey Crow (@GigglingStream) / “@Saltoalreverso #7″.-
06/18/2015 by Aquileana.

you know i loved today’s post for many reasons…thank you for including me in your beautiful wordpress gang and the nomination but mostly because you did so, in Apollo’s post..he is my favorite of all gods and it is so strange that you did it cause Apollo and I go together,very back in time(i also had a fight once with my parents for not naming me Apollo..hahaha) , how weird is that? is it coincidence? i don’t know..however thank you. i enjoyed Apollo;s post and i am sure he would be grateful as well for this..loved your family pics as well..

I am pleased to read your words… Apollo is also one of my favorite Greek Gods, even if he was related to the Patriarchal System, as he represented the male Solar features, as his sister Artemis was the female Lunar Goddess… You wanted to be called Apollo!.. Haha 😀 Well. that’s certainly a good name!… Thanks for the great comment!. Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀

Apollo…one of my favorites. He’s kind of like a Western Ganesha! I am beginning to simply love visiting your site for the information, and the wonderful pictures you present…so many details, so many luscious paintings and other art. Now I see why you have so many followers, it’s addicting! And, thanks so much for the award nomination!

Thank you very much dear Badfish for the great comment 💫 Good to learn about Ganesha as well! ..I am glad to know that you liked the post and your are welcome for the award nomination!. You absolutely deserve it…
All my best wishes. Aquileana ⭐

Hi Aquileana. This is another lovely exploration of mythology. I had forgotten about there being a Celtic equivalent of Apollo. I didn’t stop to dig into the myth when I saw it. Your knowledge of these things is admirable.
Thanks for the introduction to Geofrey and his poetry. Hugs! 🙂

Hi dear Teagan!.
Thanks for the great feedback… I am very pleased to know that you found this post interesting and that you learned about the Celtic version of Apollo as well… by the way, I saw there is a new episode on your blog and will drop by soon, of course… As soon as I am finished here!… ❤
Sending you many hugs!… All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀

Hi Aquileana,
Perhaps you can imagine my child-like excitement as I open the link to this wonderful post and see the glittering words, “Apollo.” You really have done a splendid job here. I was most intrigued by the Irish-Celts connection with worship of Apollo, and found this, too regarding, “The Celtic “Apollo” : A healing god of light and warmth and the power of sight, particularly invoked for eye problems. http://www.imbas.org/articles/basic_celtic_deity_types.html

Also, From your link in your article about Celtic Gods of similar characteristics : “Beyond the Gallic regions (France) to the north, the harp which was associated with Apollo was frequently played. Of particular interest was the Beltane Festival held on the eve of May, when Druids kindled prodigious fires on cairns (stacks of stones) to honor the sun god they referred to as Beal, Bealan, or the Latin name of Belenus. Near Edinburgh, there was a stone dug up with the inscription to Apollo Grannus.”

Fascinating! Thank you for the quote challenge nomination. Your family pictures are adorable. Much Love,Ka

Dear Ka!.
That article is certainly a wonderful piece of information… I´ll make sure to check it out in depth… It is interesting how Apollo was taken by Roman like a national God and the fact that his name didn’t change… As far as I am concerned the main features for the Celts were those ones associated with Medicine and Prophecy!.
I really appreciate your excellent comment! … Hugs and all my best wishes. Aquileana 😀

Dear Iris!,
I am pleased to know that you liked the presentation, the family photos and Geofrey’s poem.
Thanks for dropping by and for your encouraging comment, my friend!. Happy week and all the best to you!, Aquileana 💫

Congratulations Aquileana on your Awards. You deserve each of them. I am always impressed with how much knowledge and work your posts require. I can tell you love what you write about. I so enjoy your blog. In love and light Cheryle

You continue in the history of Greek mythology. Today is the turn of Apollo, the sun god. A legend says that Phaeton, son of Apollo, fell at the mouth of the Po, while he was driving the chariot of the sun.
Your posts are always interesting and full of news.

Only a goddess could be born and immediately help birth her twin brother.

I was also noticing this point,”the dragon Python guarded the mysterious chasm, and Apollo, after having slain the monster, took possession of the oracle”

I think I mentioned before that I’m listening to a CD from a professor at a California state University who teaches mythology, and he said that whenever you see a hero slay a serpent or dragon (a large serpent) it is usually the original goddess (basically his great-great-grandmother) — the representative of female power — who is being defeated by the male hero. So you’re seeing the shift to patriarchy in this particular part of the story.

Sun gods also often take over the original goddess role. Hence, Apollo.

Of course the original goddess can show up in a lot of places in new form. Some think Artemis might be derived from that original goddess.

So the original goddess seems to show up all over the place, in different forms, maybe reflecting the ambivalence we feel about female power. Plus, a clash of various traditions coming together and taking their stories.

I’m also wondering why the US moon missions were called Apollo instead of Luna. That’s probably not something you have an answer for, But I’m curious.

You are right as the the first point, when Artemis helped her mother Leto to give birth to Apollo. I tend to think that she was born as an adult… As that also happened with Athena, who was born like a grown up young goddess and even wearing clothes and her helmet…
It is interesting that you mention that the serpent could symboloze maybe a Matriarchal system as we have already discussed the meaning of the Snake Goddess among Minoans

I have never thought that in that particular incident in which Apollo fought against Python there might be a hidden meaning though… Maybe related with the upcoming primacy of Male dominance as Apollo is considered one of the most important Gods, and he represented the Male Solar forces… opposed to the Lunar features, represented by Artemis and also by Selene, and that if they were not associated one to the other. Worth noting that Apollo, on his side, was identified with Hellios, the Sun God…

As to your question with regard to the NASA’s missions to the Moon I couldn’t but say that there was a subtle “male bias” (as you would say 😉 ) … Strictly saying and as a matter of fact … the astronauts were all men, right!?

Oh Apollo 11… … “If you believe they put a man on the moon” as the song goes…

Anyhow, once again we should keep in mind the dichotomy Solar/Lunar…
Being Apollo the male Solar Force and Artemis a Lunar Force.
The most clear example of this would be Aeschylus’ Oresteia… [Keep in mind that here Athena seconds Apollo]

Brief summary [SourceWikipedia, search: “Apollo”- “Apollo in the Oresteia”]
“In Aeschylus trilogy Clytemnestra kills her husband, King Agamemnon because he had sacrificed their daughter Iphigenia to proceed forward with the Trojan war, and Cassandra, a prophetess of Apollo…
Apollo gives an order through the Oracle at Delphi that Agamemnon’s son, Orestes, is to kill Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, her lover. Orestes and Pylades carry out the revenge, and consequently Orestes is pursued by the Erinyes (Furies, female personifications of vengeance).
Apollo and the Furies argue about whether the matricide was justified; Apollo holds that the bond of marriage is sacred and Orestes was avenging his father, whereas the Erinyes say that the bond of blood between mother and son is more meaningful than the bond of marriage. They invade his temple, and he says that the matter should be brought before Athena. Apollo promises to protect Orestes, as Orestes has become Apollo’s supplicant. Apollo advocates Orestes at the trial, and ultimately Athena, also rules in favor of Apollo”…

I hope my comment makes sense to you, as a possible reply to your question.
All my best wishes to you!, Aquileana 😀

I often ponder about: Why If Romans, Greeks, others, wanted to worship a new G-d they always chose the most complicated ones?
Thanks my dear Aquileana, your post very interesting as always and let me point out that you have a beautiful family! 🙂 ❤

The story I’d heard was that Apollo got to be associated with plagues and disease (and more generally medicine) by way of some kind of link made between him and mice/rats, which were seen as disease-and-plague-bringers. I’m not sure how all those links got made, though. Especially I don’t see why they’d link Apollo to mice/rats.

Apollo seems to be the god of so many things – everything from prophecy, music, medicine and the foundation of towns. All so different. His story is quite fascinating, and his treatment of the unfaithful Coronis, rather brutal.
Lovely family photos and great quotes – and the “Hymn to Apollo” by Geofrey Crow is excellent. 🙂

Hello dear Millie,
Apollo was what Joseph Campbell would call a God with a thousand faces! 😀
I am pleased to know that you liked the post, the quotes and the family photos.
Thanks for dropping by and for your great comment!. All the best to you!, Aquileana 💫

Aqui, tons of great info here about Apollo. But you give us so much more 🙂 I have been following Geofrey for a month or so on Twitter and am impressed with his poetry. Thanks for the pictures of your family as well as passing on yet more blogging awards. You are inspiring and one busy lady!

Hi there dear Jeri!, Thanks a lot for dropping by and for your beautiful comment!. 🙂 I am really pleased to know that you liked the post and the family photos.
As to Geofrey,I am with you: He is a great poet, indeed! … I saw that you have a new post and will drop by as soon as I am done here…
All my best wishes! Aquileana 😀

You were lucky to visit Delfi… I bet it was a mystic experience, dear Cybele… You are right, Apollo looks pretty much alike Jesus, when it comes to depictions…
Thanks for dropping by and for your beautiful comment!. 🙂 I am really pleased to know that you liked the post…
All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀

Lovely post, dear Aquileana! Congratulations on having your story in the magazine and for yet more awards. I liked your quotes and your family pictures and enjoyed Geofrey’s poem very much. I was most interested in all the duties Apollo had. I never knew he was involved in so many things. As always, you have chosen such a lot of beautiful art-work to accompany your post. Best wishes,
Clare xx ❤

Hi dear Clare,
Thanks a lot for dropping by and for your beautiful comment! 🙂 I am really pleased to know that you liked the post, the artwork, the challenges and Geofrey’s poem…
I am beyond appreciative to read your words, my friend!.
All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀

I had to mention it somewhere and this seemed as nice a place as any. I love the title you’ve chosen for the blog. It always reminds me of one of the very few Latin quotations I committed to memory
“Aquilas non capit muscae” 🙂

I love the format of your blog posts, learning, art, personal stuff and photos, it is a pleasure to come here. These days I always associate Apollo with Battlestar Galactica, which is shameful when there is such a rich and fascinating history of the original figure, I hang my head in shame.

That is certainly an interesting association… I will have to check it out on the web!…
Thanks for the great support, dear Ste… I much appreciate your words.
Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀

Hi dear Verna! Thanks a lot for dropping by and for your beautiful comment!. 🙂 I am really pleased to know that you liked the post , paintings and family photos.
Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀

Action packed post here Aq. The story of Apollo is fascinating, and the poem by Geofrey is fantastic. And so are the quotes with your lovely photos. Always so much to take in with your meticulous posts. xo 🙂

Thanks for such an encouraging comment dear DG!… I much apprecite your words and I am pleased to know that you enjoyed the mythological section and the Quote Challenge! … Hugs!. All my best wishes. Aquileana 😀

Buongiorno cara Aquileana,
Apollo is an interesting character with many aspects attributed to him. I often wondered why he had so many, while other gods and goddesses were given only a few. I think it may be possible he was the embodiment of an older god, or gods, such as the Titans who were very powerful in spite of being defeated.
Excellent post.
ciao
Luciana

Buongiorno, cara Luciana, 💫✨🌟
I agree with you as to Apollo being a multi skilled God. You are right, he could have been a legatee of many different features of different Gods… I have never thought it that way, but it actually makes much sense to me… Thank you very much for dropping by. I am really pleased to know that you liked the post. Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀

Hello Aquileana and many thanks for your again very interesting lecture about Apollo and his many qualities. So, now, I finally know why the ravens are black!! I also enjoyed the poem by Geofrey Crow and the paintings very much. I wish you all the best.:) Martina

Thank a lot for the kind words and I am really pleased to know that you enjoyed the feature, dear Martina… Also thanks on behalf of Geofrey for your thoughts as to his poem!…. Have a wonderful day… Best wishes ❤ Aquileana ⭐

Very good study on Apollo, Aquileana! And, congratulations on the awards. I liked how you did the quote with pictures. That was a very nice touch. I tried to translate your story but it didn’t come out perfect. Still, I was able to enjoy the subject of it. Great job all around!

I really appreciate that you tried to translate the brief story… I thought of translating it myself but really didn’t have enough time to do so last week!… Maybe next time I will.
Also very pleased to know that you enjoyed the mythological section and liked the quote challenge as well, dear Randstein. All my best wishes and happy weekend ahead to you. Aquileana ⭐

I am very much appreciating the wide scope and diversity of your knowledge and talent. Aquileana. I think you would be a great professor of literature if you chose to teach. Have a great weekend as well! – Daniel

Hi dear Kourt!… Thanks for dropping by… I agree with you… He was associated with too many different things, and that is not something very usual… As often the features linked to certain God or Goddess tend to be related one to the other! … All my best wishes! … Aquileana 🍀

Thanks a lot for dropping by and for your beautiful comment!. I am glad to know that you liked the account on Apolo and that you liked my family photographs, dear Sartenada 🐼💕. Best wishes!. Enjoy your weekend ahead, Aquileana ⭐

Good heavens, you do NOT want to mess with Apollo if you’re dating this fellow. He does not take to betrayal well. Let this be a warning to all his future lovers, right? Yikes.
And I thought Geofrey’s poetry was lovely as well. Such talent you display here, Auquileana.
The picture of you as a tot are purely squishable. I wonder just how early your interest in mythology goes back? All those pretty ornaments look like jewelry of the gods.
Just saying. 😛
Happy Friday, friend!

Thanks for such an encouraging and beautiful comment…. I agree, having so many different sides, we´d better avoid messing up with Apollo 😛 I am pleased to know that you enjoyed the post and also thank you on behalf of Geofrey for your words as to his poem… All my best wishes, dear Shelley! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Aquileana ⭐

Aquileana.. another outstanding post.. And We could do with more Apollo’s upon this earth right now. 🙂
Quote you said “Apollo was also known as “the god who affords help and wards off evil”.

May I also congratulate Geofrey for his wonderful poem.. he really understood his subject and is well on his way to “working to learn the skill of turning life into words,”.. I would say Geofrey your poem is outstanding..

Thank you dear Aquileana for sharing your family photo’s and quotes.. Each one of them so lovely.. and brought a large smile of joy to my face..

Thanks for highlighting that sentence, which I belive speaks for itself… I was quite blown away for the different shapes and characteristics of Apollo, mind you!.
Thanks also on Geofrey´s behalf for your words as to his poem!:… And truly very pleased to know that you enjoyed the quote challenge and the family pics, as well!…
Big smile over here too! … Hugs and best wishes! Aquileana 😀

Just don’t hold your breath.. I intended to write it yesterday.. We have a heat wave this week. And my granddaughter over.. So don’t know if it will get done.. But will be sure to remind you when it is.. 🙂 Hugs ❤

What a fantastic post about a lovely god! (For a moment let’s not think about what he did to Coronis, though.) Not only is Apollo a handsome, athletic young man, but he promotes pursuits that elevate human beings: music, art, poetry, knowledge and healing, and Geofrey’s poem is truly beautiful, a fitting tribute to the Sun God, incorporating all of his main attributes. I particularly like the musicality of the verses and the emphasis on love:
“With courage let us join in song,
in music, rise above.
A life so short and very long
we sing, and hope to love.

Great selection of artwork, as usual, dear Aquileana. Thank you for yet another wonderful tutorial.
Have a nice weekend. Hugs 🙂 Irina

Thanks a lot for dropping by and for your beautiful comment, dear Irina 🙂 I am pleased to know that you enjoyed the post and that you liked Geofrey´s poem as well… I met Geofrey on Twitter and we became friends and I really wanted to invite him for a collaboration because I also like his poems very much…
The verses you highlighted are truly nice, indeed! …
I much apprecciate your words, dear Irina!!! … Have a great sunday and week ahead 💫✨🌟

Yes Aquileana, I have just sent it once again, pls check up and let me know. Would love to hear your views and I would very happy if the message reaches to lovely friends like you and many more friends…somehow we have ceased to hear the “voice of nature” in crazy life and maddening development at the cost of nature, we have forget the art of nurturing nature, our nature has changed and this change not good for us nor for our next generation, we all need to do our little part of preserving and conserving the nature…
You too have a lovely ahead…
😀

I´d say he could be y because he is a very versatile God, with many different characteristics…. Well, I am just guessing! … Thanks a lot for dropping by and for your comment, dear Dilip!. All my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀

Brilliant as always! Congratulations on all of the awards as well Aquileana. So very well deserved ! I love anything to do with Greek mythology. Ever since I saw Clash of the Titans (the original version of course) as a kid the stories have captivated my attention. Just love all of your posts … 🙂

Aquileana, you have such an outstanding blog, it is stunning, every post a work of art. I can imagine the time and effort spent in each and every one of your texts, the gorgeous paintings must take hours of research. Thank you for the effort, and please know how much it is enjoyed and appreciated, much love to you! ❤

Hi dear Holly 💫✨🌟
Thank you very much for your words as they are very important to me. Yes, it might take time, but I can handle it as I just post twice a month…
I am really pleased to know that you liked the post and images!… Hugs and best wishes. Aquileana 😉

Somehow I missed this post before – so glad i saw it now!! Apollo one of my favourites (like many people it seems!) – could be the Celt in me! 🙂 I love reading your posts and then the comments from your followers Aquileana – all so informative and interesting. Certainly what blogging should be about I think – and you do it so well with your stimulating posts and then your answers to the comments! fantastic- (I don’t know where you find the time!). Thank you, thank you – to yourself mostly, for all the work you put into your beautiful and full blog and to your followers for the interesting comments and your answers – it sometimes takes me a while to read and comment as I prefer to use my laptop for your blog rather than phone or tablet – makes for a more complete experience! I learn so much! 🙂

Dear Rob,
Thank you very much for dropping by and for your comment!. I am really pleased to know that you enjoyed the account on Apollo and It is great to know that you even took time to read comments and so on… Knowing that means a lot to me … I am really appreciate!… All the best to you. I hope you have a very nice week ahead. Aquileana ⭐

[…] to the Oracle of Delphi in order to ask the Oracle why this is the case. According to the Oracle, Apollo regards religious or moral pollution (miasma) resulting from the murder of the former king, […]

[…] Firstly, Beauty. Ovid characterizes it in two ways. On the one hand, he defines it as divine. Since Narcissus is the son of a river, Cephissos, and a nymph of great beauty, Liriope. The poem also compares Narcissus hair with Apollo´s. […]

[…] Selene is the Greek Goddess of the Moon. She is the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia. Besides, Selene is sister of the Sun-God Helios, and Eos, Goddess of the Dawn. In classical times, Selene was often identified with the Goddess of Hunting, Artemis, much as her brother (Helios), was identified with Apollo. […]

I am a painter an a illustrator who would love to illustrate one of your poems.
I’m a southern gentleman living on the Gulf Coast.
If you are willing to send me a poem, I would be thrilled to attempt to illustrate what I think
The poem is saying. Thanks for your consideration.
J.E.Booth